A young gambler forged a sick note and lied to social security about where he lived to fund his online habit.

Brandon James Robley, 20, of Fairyhill Close, Port Erin, admitted two offences of fraud by false representation and uttering with intent to deceive.

He was sentenced to eight weeks’ custody for the first offence and six weeks for the second to run consecutively, but both suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay back £1,435.71 which he received in overpayment of benefits as a result of the fraud offence.

We previously reported how, on April 23 Robley was issued with a doctor’s certificate signing him off work between April 23 and May 23.

On April 26 he handed the note in at Markwell House to claim incapacity benefit.

However, staff noticed that the end date of the certificate had been changed from May 23 to August 23.

It was also found that a landlord’s signature on a note detailing rental costs for a property in Ramsey had been forged.

Robley had been claiming for rent he said he was paying but in reality he was living with his mother at another address.

The landlord of the Ramsey property said he had never lived at the property or paid any rent.

After being arrested Robley admitted the offences, saying he changed the medical certificate because he wanted to go camping for the summer and didn’t want to have to go back to the doctors.

He also admitted not living at the Ramsey property, saying he believed he had received between £1,000 and £1,200 which he should not have in benefits.

Robley claimed he gave £250 to the landlord but said he spent the rest on gambling and alcohol.

Defending Robley in court his advocate Paul Glover asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty pleas and co-operation.

’The main reason for this was gambling,’ said the advocate.

’He is working with Motiv8 now. He has found it to be a very useful service and has developed a good relationship with them. He knows he needs to stub this out if he’s going to move forward and lead a productive life.

’Given the economic climate, public funds aren’t to go to fund his addictions. He is apologetic to the community.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that a probation report had described Robley as a ’troubled young man’.

Mrs Hughes said that there were grounds to suspend the sentence citing Robley’s early guilty plea, the unsophisticated offences, his young age, and the fact he has no previous convictions.

Robley was ordered to repay the £1,435.71 and pay £125 prosecution costs.